Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) provide a detailed description of commonly used procedures. SOPs briefly describe a topic's purpose, give staff contact information, and provide procedures to follow, usually including personel roles. Focusing on steps to accomplish a task, SOPs have links to more detailed background information on policies and regulations.

An SOP is an established procedure to be followed in carrying out a given operation or in a given situation; it is a specific procedure or set of procedures; it is a prescribed procedure to be followed routinely.